The Beach Health Blog

                                                                                                                       With all of our papers, projects, presentations, and not to mention finals coming up, how can a busy college student make time for fitness? Well, what is fitness in the first place?        “Fitness means being able to perform physical activity”.       -      WEB MD It’s pretty simple isn’t it? Yet, a lot of us struggle squeezing in time to work out. We often find ourselves saying that we don’t have time or initiative. Let me be a friendly reminder that you make time for what you want! I’m a firm believer that the worst workout, is no work out. So, in hopes that we can make time for fitness, here are some solutions to common excuses J Possible Excuse: 1)      “I don’t have time”. 2)      “I’m too tired”. 3)      “I’m not interested in exercise”. Solution: 1)      Make time! As a

1. Make a schedule and stick to it! Set a time to wake up and when to go to sleep by organizing your day hourly. Remember, this will only be effective if you start your day when you originally planned it. 2. Avoid caffeine before bed Try to avoid caffeinated beverages such as energy drinks, tea, soda and chocolate, 6 hours before calling it a night. This will allow your body just enough time to digest it and leave your system. 3. Eat about 2-3 hours before going bed Food has calories, which equal energy! You need them to get you through your day. However, allow your body time to digest your meals for better quality sleep. 4. Hydrate! Replenish your body with plenty of water throughout your day to keep your body going. Drinking water is really important, to switch things up, add lemon and cucumber with mint or mix in some berries. It is delicious and refreshing! 5. Nap Wisely Napping is a great way to let your brain and eyes recharge as well as increase creativity t

The word “addiction” usually carries a negative connotation to it. People think of addicts as typically being unemployed or violent or even uneducated. Many would be surprised then to discover that, according to AddicitonCenter.com, “Those who are enrolled in a full time college program are twice more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol than those who don’t attend college.”             This can be attributed to the many masks that addiction can wear and a variety of social-environmental factors that include stress from school, peer pressure, and experimentation with different substances. It’s not just alcohol addiction, there is also addiction to drugs such as marijuana, Adderall, and even diet pills.  By understanding addiction and creating an open discussion about recovery, we can begin to heal ourselves and destigmatize the concept.             To this end, CSULB has established a collegiate recovery community known as Beach Recovery . Their main goal is to educate people about a

Self-Care @ The Beach             In between trying to get caught up on class readings, fitting in those internship hours, and scheduling that group project meet-up that you’ve been putting off, self-care is the last thing that’s on the mind of many college students. Far too often, students find themselves buried in their list of things to do and forget to pay their own well-being the respect that it deserves. With self-care, it is most effective to do little things more often than to wait for that big vacation that only comes once a year. Just as a car runs better with regular maintenance, so will you with regular self-care and self-love. The key is to incorporate little things into your day to give some attention to your mind, body, and spirit. Mind -         Pay yourself a compliment! o    No, really. Take some time to really pause and reflect on the things that you take pride in and love about yourself. -         Unplug yourself o    Give yourself a little break from

Can Study Drugs Lead to Better Grades? When major exams come up, the pressure is on. Many college students throughout the nation hit the books only to realize that studying for a few hours may not be enough to make the grade. Prescription drugs such as Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse are stimulants used to treat individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In 2014, 9.6% of full-time college students used Adderall in the United States. A majority of those who have used Adderall and other stimulants have taken them for nonmedical reasons in order to concentrate on studying for long hours without feeling tired. These “study drugs” affect one’s attention span, self-discipline, and impulse control ultimately allowing a person to focus on the task at hand, whether it be a 10-page essay or a cram session for a big chemistry exam. However, it is illegal to use, purchase, or sell these medications without a valid prescription. If caught, a person engaging

DE-STRESS @ the Beach!   1. Utilize the Student Recreation and Wellness Center (SRWC) Cortisol and adrenaline are the hormones responsible for the stress triggering the fight-or-flight response. Be your own hero and fight off those stress hormones by attending their daily guided group fitness classes, doing cardio, lifting weights for muscular endurance, or simply letting your muscles relax in the jacuzzi. 2. Receiving the Learning Assistance Center’s Services Whether you want the A or that passing grade, the LA C, has the tools you need! It’s conveniently located in the Horn Center. Costs: Drop-in tutoring (free) 1-on-1 tutoring ($13 per 50 minute session) Learn how to enhance your learning skills such as time management, stress and anxiety reduction, planning for research projects and papers, or adding a 1 unit Supplemental Instruction class to get your lecture questions answered is what the LAC can do for you. Book your appointment now! 3.  Health Resou

LGBTQ Health Sometimes the L G B T Q community may feel reluctant to seek out health services for many different reasons. In this blog, we at Student Health Services want to let anyone that may identify as LGBTQ that we are here for support, offer free health resources, and can refer to outside places that offer free services as well. The Student Health Services provides free or low cost general medical care for all students at CSULB. We provide confidential, quality medical care by licensed providers. You can schedule appointments by calling, from our website or by walking in. We also offer free health education counseling about STIs, HIV, safer sex, and partner communication.  Additionally, we offer f ree HIV tests Monday-Thursday each week. These appointments are 30 minutes and are completely confidential. Looking to go somewhere off campus? The LGBTQ Center on 4 th Street in Long Beach offers: ·        Free support groups, workshops, and even counseling . ·        Fre

Sexual Assault: What can you do?  Some of the latest statistics indicate that 1 in 4 women experience sexual assault while in college. This is a relatively large percentage of cases reported. You can imagine how many sexual assaults are unreported. The number of sexual assault cases are becoming more publicized on college campuses. Because of these high numbers, colleges have implemented a number of programs to prevent sexual assault. Believe it or not, we can prevent some of these situations from occurring. We can do so by becoming an active bystander. Prevention Awareness Uniting Students with Empowerment (PAUSE) is a CSULB program aimed at encouraging students to intervene to prevent sexual assault from taking place. Many times students do not intervene because they are unsure what to do or expect someone else to intervene; hence, your top priority should be your safety. There are three different methods students can perform: direct, delegate, and distract. These are kn

Health at Every Size (HAES)            Did you know that being thinner does not necessarily mean that you will be happier or healthier? This tends to be a misconception that the majority of us believe. The principles of Health at Every Size (HAES) by Linda Beacon “supports people of all sizes in finding compassionate ways to take care of themselves.” So, what are the principles of Health at Every Size?: Celebrates body diversity. Honors the differences in size, age, race, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and religion.  V alues body knowledge and peoples lived experiences. Finds the joy in moving one’s body and eating in a flexible manner that honors internal cues of hunger and appetite. Linda Beacon alongside the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH) have created the Health at Every Size pledge. You can be a part of the over 10,000 people that have signed showing their support to the principles of HAES values. Be a part of this as

On-Campus Food Hacks for the Busy Student             Running late for class and skipped a meal? We’ve all been there. No one wants to sit in class with a grumbling stomach, so here are some quick and hearty meal options you can grab on campus! Convenience Store Hacks: The Beach Hut, Bookstore, Corner Market, and The Outpost convenience stores are packed with nutritious options for the starving student on the go. Light breakfast options like mini cereal bowls, low fat or 2% milk, or self-serve warm oatmeal with a banana are simple and easy to prepare. Pretzels, nuts, apples, and ready-to-eat sandwiches and salads are the perfect snacks to hold you over until lunch time. You can also grab a healthy fruit smoothie from the beverage brands Naked or Odwalla. Each of these cost $5 or less! University Dining Plaza (at the USU) Hacks: Beach Walk Café – USU 3 rd Floor The Beach Walk Café is packed with nutritious foods and also offers vegan and vegetarian options. Satisfying

There is No Wrong Way to Have a Body             As individuals of the CSULB community we are all probably familiar with these common stressors: school, work, personal relationships, money, etc. However, some of us may be hesitant to acknowledge another common worry- poor self-body image.             From a very early age, many external factors can condition girls to think that their appearance is the most important thing about them. Whether it’s the media, family, or peers, the idea of what a girls are supposed to look like is hammered into their minds. Guys don’t fare any better. Boys are exposed to the media's idea of what a man is supposed to look like: muscular, handsome, and fearless. We are presented with these unobtainable body images and are expected to try and look like them. For both boys and girls, not meeting any or all of these qualifications can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-loathing.             The bottom line is this: there is too much stress and

Smoking or Vaping on Campus? Sorry! After Sept 1 No More CSULB students, welcome back to The Beach! We have a new policy that will go into effect this semester: Starting  September 1 st , 2016  our campus will be  smoke, vapor, and tobacco free.  This new policy is being implemented through the BREATHE campaign, which promotes everyone’s right to breathe fresh air. If you’re curious as to how this new policy may affect you, check out scenarios below: Non-Smokers Scenario 1 : You’re leaving the library after a long study session with your Starbucks in hand, bag full of books, and a look that says you are ready to go home. You step outside and your nostrils are soon hit with the smell of second-hand smoke. Fumes are everywhere and now they are all you can notice. Impact on You : This scenario will soon be a thing of the past. Starting September 1 st , smoking, vaping, and tobacco products will be prohibited on campus. Side Note : Although you may not be a smoker,